What was the first animal sacrifice in Genesis for Adam and Eve's sin symbolic of?

Answer 1

While it cannot be said that Abel had any foreknowledge of the eventual outworking of the divine promise at Genesis 3:15 concerning the promised "seed," he likely had given much thought to that promise and believed that blood would have to be shed, someone would have to be 'bruised in the heel,' so that mankind might be uplifted again to the state of perfection that Adam and Eve had enjoyed before their rebellion. (Hebrew 11:4) In the light of this, Abel's offering of the firstlings of his flock certainly was appropriate and undoubtedly was a factor in God's expression of approval. To the Giver of life, Abel gave as his gift life, even though it was only from among the flock.